Conveyor Drum Axis Offset for Tobacco Article Diameter Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the tobacco processing industry, existing conveyor systems face challenges in efficiently changing the diameter format of rod-shaped articles, such as filter cigarettes, without requiring significant design or equipment changes, which complicates the production process and increases mechanical stress on fragile articles during transfer.
Innovation Solution
The method involves adjusting the relative distance between the axes of rotation of conveyor drums to accommodate different diameters of rod-shaped articles by offsetting at least one conveyor drum, allowing the same drums to handle articles of varying diameters without mechanical damage, and maintaining constant trough diameters and contours to ensure secure transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conveyor drums are exchanged when changing rod-shaped article diameters, then the conveying system can be optimized for each format, but the device complexity and conversion time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor drum is designed with a universal receiving trough geometry that can accommodate rod-shaped articles of different diameters. The trough has a U-shaped cross-section with dimensions and curvature radii that allow it to securely hold both smaller diameter articles (e.g., 5mm) and larger diameter articles (e.g., 8mm) without requiring drum replacement. This multi-functional design enables a single drum to serve multiple conveying purposes across different product formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance between adjacent conveyor drums is made adjustable rather than fixed. By dynamically changing the inter-drum distance, the system adapts to different article diameters: smaller distances for smaller diameter articles and larger distances for larger diameter articles. This dynamic adjustment allows the same conveyor drum to optimally convey different formats without mechanical exchange.
2Reliability
If the distance between conveyor drum axes is reduced for smaller diameter articles, then article integrity is maintained, but the conveying system cannot accommodate larger diameter articles without mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The inter-drum distance is designed as a dynamic parameter that can be adjusted based on the diameter of the rod-shaped articles being conveyed. For smaller diameter articles, the distance is reduced to prevent mechanical stress and maintain integrity. For larger diameter articles, the distance is increased to accommodate their larger circumference. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal conveying conditions for each article type without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the geometric parameter of inter-drum distance to adapt to different article diameters. By varying this spatial parameter, the conveying system maintains appropriate contact and support for articles of different sizes, ensuring that smaller articles are not damaged by excessive compression while larger articles receive sufficient support during transfer.
3Manufacturing precision
If conveyor drums are exchanged for format changes, then optimal conveying conditions are achieved, but production downtime and conversion time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving trough is designed with universal geometric characteristics that allow a single conveyor drum to optimally convey rod-shaped articles of different diameters. The U-shaped cross-section with specific dimension ranges can securely hold various article sizes, eliminating the need for drum exchange and reducing conversion time to minimal adjustment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the inter-drum distance adjustable, the system can quickly adapt to different article formats without physical drum replacement. This dynamic adjustment significantly reduces conversion time compared to exchanging drums, while still maintaining optimal conveying conditions for each specific diameter through precise spacing control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables quick and efficient product changes on filter attachment machines by minimizing mechanical stress and avoiding the need for exchanging conveyor drums, thus reducing conversion times and maintaining article integrity during format changes.
Implementation Method 1
During the promotion, these objects of the tobacco processing industry are held on the conveyor drums by suction air, which rests against corresponding channels, usually bores.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry (21, 22), wherein the rod-shaped articles (21, 22) are conveyed transversely with respect to the axis in receiving troughs of conveying drums (31, 32, 33) as the conveying drums (31, 32, 33) rotate, wherein the conveying drums (31, 32, 33, 33) rotate about an own axis of rotation (41, 42, 43) respectively in the transverse axial conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles (21, 22) which are disposed one after the other, wherein the rod-shaped articles (21, 22) arranged consecutively in at least one row transversely with respect to the axis are transferred from a conveying drum (31, 31, 32, 33) to a subsequent conveying drum (31, 32, 33). The method is further developed in that, in the event of a change of the rod-shaped articles (21, 22) to be conveyed having different diameters, the conveying drums (31, 32, 33) provided for conveying the rod-shaped articles (21, 22) are retained, wherein for the change of the rod-shaped articles (21, 22) to be conveyed the axis of rotation (42) of at least one conveying drum (32) is offset with respect to the axis of rotation (41, 43) of at least one adjacent conveying drum (31, 33). The invention further relates to an arrangement for conveying rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, and to a machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.